Description
A comforting and creamy pasta dish with seasoned beef, perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) penne pasta
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup (about 100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tsp olive oil for sautéing
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Set pasta aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tsp olive oil. Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 4–5 minutes; do not let the garlic brown.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with a wooden spoon and cook until evenly browned, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired (leave a tablespoon for flavor). Season the beef with salt, pepper, and 2 tsp Italian seasoning.
- Lower the heat to medium-low. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and stir to combine. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until you reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Add 1 cup grated Parmesan to the cream-beef mixture and stir until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. If sauce seems too thin after cheese, simmer gently until slightly reduced; if too thick, add more pasta water.
- Add the cooked penne to the skillet and toss gently to coat each piece with sauce. Warm through for 1–2 minutes so flavors meld.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan and chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or use ground turkey for a leaner protein. Adjust seasoning based on personal preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 845
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 56g
- Saturated Fat: 26g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 90mg